Well, here it is February and I have got the no-more-nanowriting-can’t get-around-to-editing-blues. Yes, I managed to finish my 50,000 words and now they lie sleeping on my computer like an orphaned monster waiting for a makeover.  I’d better get to the critter because the Matrix is sponsoring an open mic this Friday. Readings from nanonovels will be encouraged as this will be the first meeting of the revived writing group here in Lewis County. (The meeting starts at 6pm, readings at 8pm) That being said I will open the door to the monster’s lair and my fragile editor may tip toe in, returning from a hiatus after a grueling period of being locked up in November. She will step in carefully, remembering that she once loved this unmangeable beast and see what she can do with him, or is it a her? The title of the sequel is Falling Into Green, and now that I remember it, there are some wonderful parts to it.

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I am off and running, writing a sequel to Calliope in Time for the Nanowriters’s contest during this month. I hope others out there are having fun with this. All you have to do to “win” is accomplish writing 50,000 words in the month of November. The value of writing WITHOUT editing is very beneficial, although I have to say I don’t have much of an “inner editor” as some writers do. In fact, sometimes I can’t find an editor within me at all….maybe she killed herself…maybe she’s in hiding….maybe she’s embarrassed about her ineptitude in this department. Oh well,  At this point I have about 15,000 words. The sequel, entitled “Falling Into Green” will feature an Artificial Intelligence as one of the main characters, so if any of you have characteristics of a female AI that you’d love to see depicted leave a comment. Actually, I am almost through the fun part of initial character development and will be moving on to plot development…..yes this novel very well may have a plot….:) I have decided to postpone the second run for Calliope until I have the required cash, but there are a few left of the first run at the Matrix Coffeehouse and a few are also available  through BasementiaPublishers and possibly at Book and Brush in Chehalis.  My posts, and any updating of this blog may be slim this month, but be sure to check back in December.

I wrote Calliope in Time, my first short novel during the 2005 nanowriters challenge. In case you don’t know what that is it’s a challenge to write 50,000 words during the month of November. I decided to do it the last time on October 30th when 2 people planning to participate came into my coffeehouse and told me about it. I had NO idea I could write that much in a month and I had NO idea I could write dialogue either. What an adventure! So, if you are a procrastinating, budding author, take the challenge, sign up and try it. It’s a great opportunity to develop fluency(no time to edit) The year I “won” there were 6.000 people around the globe who accomplished it! The website is wwwnanowrimo.org. Check it out. If you’re in Chehalis, there will be a write in on Nov. 1st at Little Ceasar’s –I’m not sure what time…I think 10am or maybe noon.

For those of you I have not been able to contact personally, I want to let you know that I will be having a book seminar on my book Calliope In Time. It will be Thursday, Oct. 30th at 5:30 at the Matrix Coffeehouse in Chehalis. You are welcome to attend if you’ve read all of the book, part of the book or even if you are just interested in getting a copy and seeing what it’s all about. I do have a few copies left of my first run, so if you want one for yourself, or for an Xmas present, get one now as I can’t be certain that my second run will be ready before Christmas. It is in the process, however. This will be your last opportunity to get a book at the discounted price of $10…they’re more if you order from Basementia or purchase in stores. Hope to see you there!

I have just posted a piece I wrote last year about housesitting. If you want to read it, it’s entitled Free Vacations listed to your right. I thought about trying to submit it somewhere for publication but it’s the end of summer, isn’t it? We had a Fall equinox event here last weekend. I am continually reminded of what Caroline Casey said about what was happening astrologically starting May 2 last spring and then again coming up on Nov. 4th(election day). Quoting Caroline–”the empire is falling, don’t cling to the rocks falling around you” I will post her blog roll here when I figure out how to do that, but for now you can search her name and Coyote Network News.

Since I have a lot of books from my first run out there now, I would love to get comments from people who have read, or are reading it.  What parts did you like? If you put the book down and didn’t get back to it what caused the “stall”? Is anything confusing? I know that my first run was not well edited by myself and I am starting to revise it.  I just wanted to get copies out to the people who prepaid and waited so patiently.  And, I’m savin’ up money for a second run.  My son-in-law,who is working on his PHD in literature, advised me that authors usually need to focus on getting works of short fiction published first, so I’m working on some and will be posting them here for your perusal. I will also try submitting some pieces. Anyone have ideas on where I should submit? Meanwhile go ahead, criticize my book…I can take it! In fact I WANT it..perhaps it’ll make me a better writer.

I have had trouble getting to the blog so this post is very late in thanking all who attended my Book signing on July 31st. It was a fantastic party!   Since I noticed many of the people who signed up for my book (Calliope in Time) were engaged in some business or passion of their own, I asked people to bring business cards, brochures or whatever product/project they might have to share with the group. I wanted to network for everyone because of all the support I got from people to get the book printed.  Without the “pay in advance” system I used for getting copies for this first run, it could have been a long time before I could afford to get it done. Now I know why books have an acknowledgement section and I will be writing one for my next run. Many of the people I love were there that night and it was so exciting to see everyone engaging in stimulating conversations.  One guest said he had never attended a party with such a diversity of people. I picked the time for the party using the Moon Sign Book. I have planted by the moon for many years and I just figured that what works for gardens should work for people. While choosing a day I focused on “party” and “selling”. Out of the 104 books I had printed, only 28 were left! And everybody said it was a great party. My dear friend Chiyuki(director of the Multicentric Institute) brought Linda and Evelyn from teacher certification days at Evergreen. Evelyn brought some beautiful traditional baskets and contemporary pieces. I hooked her up with local gallery owners (Wild Trout Gallery). There was pottery, and greeting cards, brochures about services from parking lot cleaning to hospice musical presentations, from Passion parties to a developing Sudoku computer system, and much, much more.   I got a terrific write up in the local paper. You can see it at: http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1217352742&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1& For now, you can get Calliope in Time from Basementiapublications listed to the right.

Last weekend was amazing. I went to see the Dala Lama on Saturday and then the Green Conference on Sunday. Since I rarely leave the county this was a big outing/adventure and also very inspiring.  If you want to see an archived webcast of the Dalai Lama’s visit go to the website for Seeds of Compassion. I believe there will also be video of some of the workshops from the Green conference available within a couple of weeks. I think(not sure, though) the url will be something like greenconference.org.

I am currently doing my Final Final edit of Calliope in Time–I promise and will be sending it off the get printed this week! More later….

Please go to the published works page to read exerpts from my book which has the same name as this blog. You will find information about how to obtain a copy of the book, but please be patient as it will not be available for a month or so.  If you would like to use the contact me option(or include request in your comment here) you can obtain your copy at the “pre-published” low cost of $10. This option also gets  you an invitation to attend the special party I will be giving at the Matrix Coffeehouse(Chehalis, WA.) for all of those folks who are helping me publish the first batch. Also, these copies will be signed by me.